What is Mitten Tree Day?
Mitten Tree Day on December 6th commemorates the gift of warmth. It's a day to gather mittens, hang them on a Christmas tree, and then give them to those in need.
Those that live in cold climates understand the importance of mittens. This winter clothing piece is essential for keeping the hands warm when outdoors. Unfortunately, however, there are many children around the world without proper winter clothing, including mittens.
Mittens have been around for hundreds of years. Those in cold climates made mittens from fur, animal skin, and whatever other items could be found to keep the hands warm. Many believe the oldest mittens came from Latvia and are over 1,000 years old. However, Latvians didn't just use mittens to keep their hands warm, but also used gloves to keep their hands warm. Several pairs of knitted mittens were given a hope chest as Latvian women married. The mittens' unique patterns had specific meanings.. Some designs represented a blessing for their family, while others were used to bless members of their families.
One of the country's oldest known mittens dates back to 1803. A poem was knitted into the wool on the mitten. Abby Condon made hand-knitted mittens for soldiers during the Civil War, and she recruited women from all around New England to assist her. In just one year, 1,500 workers produced 15,000 mittens.
So, as you can see, mittens have been given away as gifts and to those in need all throughout history. This special day helps to keep this tradition alive.
